Deborah Owusu-Bonsu
Ghanaian TV personality and musician
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Deborah Owusu-Bonsu (born 1984) better known by her stage name as Sister Derby or Sister Deborah[1] is a Ghanaian television presenter, musician and model of Akan origin and a former presenter at e.tv Ghana.[2]
1984 (age 41–42)
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (Bachelor's Degree)
University of the Arts London (Master Degree)
Deborah Owusu-Bonsu | |
|---|---|
| Born | Deborah Vanessa Owusu-Bonsu 1984 (age 41–42) |
| Other names | Sister Derby, Sister Deborah, Deborah Vanessa |
| Education | Wesley Girls' High School Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (Bachelor's Degree) University of the Arts London (Master Degree) |
| Occupations | Television presenter, model, musician |
| Years active | 1994–present |
Early life and education
Deborah Vanessa Owusu-Bonsu was born in 1984 to an Ashanti father and a Romanian mother. Both of her parents were collectors of world music and art. She is a television show host, model, musician, and graphic artist.[3] Owusu-Bonsu is the sister of popular hip life musician Wanlov the Kubolor who starred in the film Coz Ov MDeborah oni.[3] Owusu-Bonsu attended Christ the King International School, then Wesley Girls' High School.[3] She graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Publishing Studies from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology followed by a Master Degree in Book/Journal Publishing from the University of the Arts London.[3]
Professional career
In 2012, Owusu-Bonsu recorded and released a single (music) entitled 'Uncle Obama' referring to Barack Obama in which was covered by United States television network CNN.[4] Owusu-Bonsu began hosting The Late Nite Celebrity Show program broadcast by television network e.tv Ghana that same year.[5] She later moved to GHOne Television where she hosted Gliterrati for a brief period before handing over to Berla Mundi.[6]
Ghana Jollof
West Africans often dispute amongst themselves about whose Jollof rice is better in the so-called Jollof Wars, a competition which is especially prominent between Nigeria and Ghana.[7][8][9][10] In 2016 Owusu-Bonsu released "Ghana Jollof", which poked fun at the Nigerian version and at Nigerians for being proud of their version.[11]
Personal life
Activism
Owusu-Bonsu has been actively involved in sanitation and recycling campaigns using her music. In 2018, she made a call on the government of Ghana to ban the use of plastic bags.[14] In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, she and her brother (Wanlov the Kubolor) made nosemasks from recycled secondhand clothing to help reduce clothing waste from dumpsites and the sea.[15][16]
Owusu-Bonsu has also been vocal about the rights of LGBT+ individuals in Ghana. In 2021, she spoke against the Ghanaian anti-LGBT bill and the shutting down of the LGBT+ Rights Ghana office.[17][18][19] She also featured on Angel Maxine's Kill The Bill and Wo Fie, which used music to advocate for the rights of LGBT+ individuals in Ghana.[20][21][22]
Discography
Singles
| Year | Title | Artist |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Uncle Obama | Sister Deborah ft (FOKN Bois) |
| 2015 | Kikoliko | Sister Deborah ft (Joey B)[23][24][25] |
| 2016 | Ghana Jollof | Sister Deborah[11] |
| 2017 | Sampanana | Sister Deborah ft (Medikal)[26][27] |
| 2018 | Pure Water | Sister Deborah ft (Efya)[28][29][30] |
| 2018 | Kakalika Love | Sister Deborah ft (Efo Chameleon)[31][32] |
| 2019 | Libilibi | Sister Deborah ft (Yaa Pono)[33] |